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Bookmark bar is empty (and RMB does not function over it) after every browser restart

  • 9 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Hi...

When I restart the browser, the bookmark bar is empty on startup and it also does not respond to anything. You can't use RMB on it and you can't drag a bookmark onto the toolbar.

I have tried 500 billion different thing with no luck - for instance:

  • Refresh
  • Reset toolbars to default
  • Reinstall and complete deletion of profile etc.
  • Diagnostic start with extensions disabled

...and probably a few hundred other things, but the problem reappears every time.

I'm using sync, so every time I've deleted/cleared etc., I log back in to sync and it syncs back bookmarks. Everything is great until I close the browser and restart it - then the bookmar toolbar is empty and unresponsive again.

The problem appeared recently - probably within the last 1-2 weeks.

Please help. :)

Best Regards, $Øyvind

Hi... When I restart the browser, the bookmark bar is empty on startup and it also does not respond to anything. You can't use RMB on it and you can't drag a bookmark onto the toolbar. I have tried 500 billion different thing with no luck - for instance: * Refresh * Reset toolbars to default * Reinstall and complete deletion of profile etc. * Diagnostic start with extensions disabled ...and probably a few hundred other things, but the problem reappears every time. I'm using sync, so every time I've deleted/cleared etc., I log back in to sync and it syncs back bookmarks. Everything is great until I close the browser and restart it - then the bookmar toolbar is empty and unresponsive again. The problem appeared recently - probably within the last 1-2 weeks. Please help. :) Best Regards, $Øyvind

All Replies (9)

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galar said

You can't use RMB on it

What is RMB?


If you have sync, and there is a problem anywhere, Shut Down Sync Immediately On All Devices to prevent the problem from spreading. Type https://accounts.firefox.com/settings<enter> in the address box. Once the problem is fixed, perform the same repair on all computers/profiles before using sync again.


[v57+] Places Maintenance is built into Firefox.

Type about:support<enter> in the address box.

You will find Places Database near the bottom. Press the Verify Integrity button.

If any errors are reported: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional

The places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files contains your History and Bookmarks. And it looks like they are corrupted.

Type about:support<enter> in the address box.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Locate the above files. Then rename or delete them. Restart Firefox. The browser should then create a new place.sqlite and recover your bookmarks from the backup files.

Note: Your history is not backed up and will be lost.

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Is the "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" control still positioned on the Bookmarks Toolbar when this happens if you check this in customize mode ?

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FredMcD said

galar said

You can't use RMB on it

What is RMB?


If you have sync, and there is a problem anywhere, Shut Down Sync Immediately On All Devices to prevent the problem from spreading. Type https://accounts.firefox.com/settings<enter> in the address box. Once the problem is fixed, perform the same repair on all computers/profiles before using sync again.


[v57+] Places Maintenance is built into Firefox.

Locate the above files. Then rename or delete them. Restart Firefox. The browser should then create a new place.sqlite and recover your bookmarks from the backup files.

Note: Your history is not backed up and will be lost.

RMB is Right Mouse Button.

I have one other computer that I'm syncing with and that one works perfectly. It's not on the exact same version though, so I have a suspicion this is a bug since it's recently appeared.

What you suggest makes the the bookmark toolbar fill with apparently the backup - perhaps 10-20 seconds after starting Firefox. If I reboot and start Firefox again - the bookmark toolbar is empty and unresponsive again (you can't RMB, you can't drag bookmarks onto it etc.).

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cor-el said

Is the "Bookmarks Toolbar Items" control still positioned on the Bookmarks Toolbar when this happens if you check this in customize mode ?

Yes, it is...

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Start Firefox using Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode {web link}

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

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FredMcD said

Start Firefox using Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode {web link} A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

I tried to switch to safe mode now, and it starts empty, but fills with bookmarks after about 15-20 seconds.

When I switch back to normal mode, the same thing happens - it starts empty, but fill with bookmarks after about 15-20 seconds (just like it did when I deleted places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite.

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I tried the same trick again (after another day has passed and after a new reboot) - meaning switch to troubleshooting mode, wait a while, then switch back.

This time the bookmark toolbar failed to "populate" - it retained its faulty behavior both in troubleshooting mode and normal mode.

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Use these links to create a new profile. Use this new profile as is. Is the problem still there?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles


Type about:profiles<enter> in the address box.

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How many bookmarks do you have and how large is your places.sqlite.

The name of an automatically created JSON bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder includes a total item count (folders and separators included) and an hash value to prevent saving the same backup more than once. You also see this count in the Restore menu drop-down list.

  • bookmarks-YYYY-MM-DD_<item count>_<hash>.jsonlz4.

Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support to see if that has effect.